Pelt or fur stretcher



Dec. 27, 1932.

G. M. COLF FELT 0R FUR STRETCHER File@ Feb 1.6, 1931 52's H//o/vy Patented Dec. 27, 1932k @new @eee e Les wellies, @Home PEL? QR STR-ETCHER applicati@ ined February` 1G, 119317. semi nq. 515,913,

rlhis invention relates topelt or fur stretchers, andit is ageneral object of the inven-` tion toy provide a simple, pra.ctical-,'and effective device for stretching and shaping furs lorskins.k 'l

It is an object of the present inventionto provide Va fur or Ypeltstretcher that lis eX-, pansible or adjustable` to handleA and stretch furs and pelts of various sizes, etc.v 19 An important object of the invention is to provide a pelt or fui" stretcher. that has a very large range ofV expansibility so as to be adapted for stretching pelts of various sizes and characters and 'so as to be operable to stretch a. pelt a maximum extent.

Another'obj ect of the present invention is to provide a pelt or furstretc'lier of the character mentioned that is extremely simple and inexpensive of manufacture. The stretcher and form provided by this inventionconsists of three simple, inexpensive principal parts that may be easily and quicklyreplaced if broken.

It is another object of the invention to proi vide a stretcher and form of the character mentioned that is easy and convenient to use or operate. The device may bel readily eX- panded and retracted by the manipulation of the central or main part of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fur stretcher of the character' inentioned in which the expansible side parts to which the pelt is attached are flexible and 'operable to expand evenly. i

Other objects and features of my invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical forni and application of the inven tion, throughout which description reference 9 is had to the accompanying drawing, in

which: l

Fig. 1 is a plan view or elevation of the device illustrating it in the expanded position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device in the retracted position. Figs. 3, el, and 5 are enlarged transverse detailed sectional views taken as indicated by lines 3 8, @-4, and n, respectively, on'Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken as indicated byline 6*(5 on Fig. 1.

` side sections may be formed of wood, or the Thefurstretcher and form provided by niy invention include-s', generally', a central or l'flainsection10,and twos'ide parts or sections The central section 10 is the main or. body part of the'device and is 'provided tofcairy and operate they side sections 11.V AThe central section 10 isgwedg'e-shapedin 'its general configuration, i. e., itis longitudinally tapered. In accordance with the invention, the ycentral i9 section' lofi'ml'ay be 4'convergent'"or Vtapered throughoit itsv length, and its. side or,l longitudin'a'l edges'12 are (of the saine pitch or 'incliiiation relative to its centrallongitudinal axis. ,lhe inner, end 13 of the centra-l section if? 10 is preferably comparatively narrow, as illustratedin the drawing. The butt o r outer end 14 of the central section maybe rounded, and a transverseopening 15 may be provided inthe centralseCt-ion adjacent 'its outer end. TheV longitudinal edges 12l of the central section cooperate `with the side parts 11V upon expansion or contraction of the'device vand are preferably made smooth and straight Y throughout their lengths. d

The side, parts or side sections 11 are elongated members arranged along the longitudinal edges 12 of the main section 10. y 'The sec tions 11 are of like sizeand configuration and are operable tow'ardand away from one another upon longitudinal movement of the central wedge section 10.. The pelts or furs. are adapted to be nailed or otherwise attached to the side sections 11, and.y accordingly, the

like. The Vsections 11 may beV the same thickness as the mainV part 10 so that their sides are flush with` the sides of the main part. rlhe inner edges 16 of the eXpansible .Side parts 11 are straight to have effective sliding engagement with the edges 12 of the central section. In the preferred form of the invention, the side parts 11 are comparatively narrow so as to be .more or less flexible to operate, as will be hereinafter described. The furs or pelts may be attached to the sidey parts 11 adjacent their outer edges, and the outer edges 17 of the side parts may be curved or shaped to effectively shape the pelts. The outer edges 17 are preferably parallel with the inner edges 16 throughout considerable portions of their lengths. The opposite end parts of the edges 17 may be curved or flared outwardly. The extreme inner ends of the sections 11 are preferably rounded, as illustrated throughout the drawing.

Sliding connections are provided between the central section 10 and the side sections 11 to retain the sections 10 and 11 in cooperative engagement during expansion and retraction ofthe device and to ensure retraction of the side parts 11 upon outward movement of the central section 10. The connections between the central section 1() andthe side sections 11 are in the nature of dove'tailed tongue and groove connections. ln the particular form of the invention illustrated, dovetailed tongues 18 are provided on the inner edges of the side sections 11 to cooperate with dovetailed grooves 19 in the longitudinal edges of the sections 10. The tongues 18 and grooves 19 preferably extend throughout the entire length Vof the device.

It will be apparent how inward movement of rthe central section 10 from the position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing to the position illustra-ted in Fig. 1 causes the side sections 11 to be uniformly and simultaneouslyy spread or expanded outwardly in opposite directions. When the central section 10 is moved outwardly, for example, to a position such as is illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the tongues 18 along the inner portions of the sections 11 are brought into engagement or abutment. The inner. end portions of the tongues 18 may be beveled or tapered outwardly as at 40 in the drawing'to allow the inner ends of the sections 11 to come together.

The invention provides means for holding the two side sections 11 against relative longitudinal movement upon operation of the stretcher. A pin 20 projects from the inner edge of one section 11 to extend into or cooperate with a socket 21 in the other side section. rlhe pin Q0 cooperates with the socket 21 to prevent relative longitudinal movement or shifting of the sections 11. The longitudinal axes of the pin 2O and socket 21 are preferably normal to the central longitudinal axis of the central section 10 when the parts are in the expanded position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. A longitudinal slot 30 is provided in the inner end part of the section 10 to receive the pin 2O when the section 10 is in the in position illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Projecting ears 23 or shoulder blocks are provided on the outer edges 17 of the sections 11 to engage the fore leg or shouldery part of a pelt to properly stretch and shape the pelt or fur. The edges of the blocks may be rounded or curved. The blocks 23 are attached to the side parts 11 at point-s spaced from their inner ends. In accordance with the invention, the blocks 23 are removably and adjustably attached to the side sections 11. The inner edges of the blocks 23 are grooved to eiectively seat on the rounded edges 17, and pins or dowels 25 project from the inner edges of the blocks to cooperate with longitudinally spaced openings 29 to project from the edges17 at any one of a plurality of dilfercnt points to conform to pelts of dilferent sizes and characters.

lt is believed that the operation of the device provided by the present invention will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description. When the parts are in the normal or contracted position, the tongues 18 of the side sections 11 are in abutment throughout substantial portions of their lengths. The cooperation between the tongues 18 and grooves 19 when the pars are in this position causes the free parts of the tongues 18 to be helc in pressural engagement so that the sections 11 are bent or flexed adjacent the end of the wedge section 10. lt is to be noted that when thesections 11 are in the unexpanded position their tongues 18 are in abutment for a considerable part of their lengths, and their outer edges 17 are substantially panllel for some distance, so that the stretcher is of aminimum width. The beveled parts 40 of the tongues 18 allow the inner end of the device to be contracted to a minimum width so as to be readily insertable in small pelts. rlhe beveled end parts Ll0 of the tongues 18 are adapt-ed to come into engagement and compensate for the flare of the sections 11, so that the edges 17 are parallel whenthe part-s are in the contracted position. When the parts are in this extremo contracted position, the stretcher may be readilyvr inserted in a pelt or skin, if it is desired to stretch and forni the pelt without splitting it. The pelts may be attached to the side parts 11 in any suitable manner, for example, they may be nailed to the side parts. The shoulder blocks 23 may be positioned along the edges 17 as desired. Upon the cen tral section 10 being; moved inwardly.v the side parts 11 are expanded or shift-ed outwardly in opposite directions to stretch the pelt. The central section 10 may be shifted inwardly any desired distance to provide for the desired or necessary stretcl'iing of the shin or pelt. lt is to be. noted that the invention provides a fur or pelt stretcher that is capable of a maximum amount of expansion. as the side sections 11 may be shifted from positions .where their tongues 18 are in engement to positions where they are spaced apart bv the wedge section 10. lt will be apparent that the wedge or central section 1() may be shaped and proportioned to provide for the desired lateral movement of the side parts 11.

Having described onlv a typical preferred forni of my invention. l do not wish to limit myself to the specific details set forth, but

wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

laying described my invention, I claim:

l. A pelt stretcher of the character described including, a longitudinally tapered central section, side sections at the opposite edges `of the central section, the central section being operable longitudinally between the side sections, dovetailed connections between the side sections and the central. section operable to cause the side sections to be moved into engagement with one another throughout substantial portions of their lengths upon outward movement of the central section. and means holding the side scctions against relative longitudinal movement.

9.. A pelt stretcher of the character described including. a longitudinally tapered central section, side sections at the opposite edges of the central section, the central section being operable longitudinally between the side sections, and sliding connections between the side sections and the central section operable to move the side sections toward one another to positions where their inner edges are in abutment throughout substantial portions of their lengths and their outer longitudinal edges are substantially parallel.

3. A fur stretcher of the character described including, a longitudinally tapered cent-ral section, flexible side sections at the longitudinal edges of the central section, the central section being movable longitudinallyT between the side sections. and sliding connections between the central section and the side sections holding the sections against separation and operable to move the side` sections together to positions where they are flexed and their inner edges are in engagement throughout substantial portions of their lengths when the central section is operated to an out position.

4f. A fur stretcher of the character described including, a longitudinally tapered central section, flexible side sections at the longitudinal edges of the central section, the

) side sections being wider at the small end of the stretcher than they are intermediate their ends and having substantially straight outer edges intermediate their ends; the central section being movable longitudinally between the side sections, and sliding connections between the central section and the side sections holding the sections against separation and operable to move the side sections to positions where their inner edges are in engagement so that they are flexed to have their outer edges substantially parallel for a considerable distance outwardly from the small end of the stretcher; when the central section is operated to an out position, the said connections including dovetailed tongues and grooves at they cooperating edges of theses.- tions, l

5. Av fur stretcher of the charactery de scribed including, a longitudinally tapered central section, flexible side sections'at the longitudinal edges of the central section, the central section being movable longitudinally between the side sections, means for holding the side sections against relative longitudinal movement, and sliding connections between the central section and the side sections hOldf ing the sections against separation and operable to move the side sections to. positions where their-inner edges vare in engagement throughout substantial portions of' rtheir lengths and they are bent inwardly when the central section is operated to an out position'.

6. A fur stretcher of the character -describedk including, alongitudinally tapered central section, flexible side sections at the longitudinal edges of the central section, the central section being movable longitudinally between the side sections, and dovetailed tongues on the longitudinal edges ofthe side sections for cooperating with grooves in the central section to hold the sections against separation and to flex the inner end portions of the side parts toward one another when `the central section is in an out position, the

said tongues being beveled at the small ends of' the side sections so that the outer edges 'of the side sections are substantially parallel when the tongues are in engagement.

7. A pelt stretcher of the character described including, a longitudinally tapered central section, side sections at the opposite edges of the central section, the central section being operable longitudinally between the side sections, dovetailed connections between the side sections and the central section operable to cause the side sections to be moved into engagement with one another upon outward movement of the central section, and means holding Vthe side sections against relative longitudinal movement, said ,means including a pin projecting from one side section and cooperating with a socket in the other side section.

8. A fur stretcher of the character described including, a longitudinally tapered central section, flexible side sections at the longitudinal edges of the central section, the central section being movable longitudinally between the side sections, a pin carried by one side section and extending into a socket in the other side section to hold the side sections against relative longitudinal movement, and sliding connect-ions between the central section and the side sections holding the sections against separation and operable to hold the side sections flexed in positions where their inner edges are in engagement for substantial portions of their lengths when the central section is in an out position.

9. A pelt stretcher of the character described including, a longitudinally tapered central section, side sections at the opposite edges of the central section, the central section being operable longitudinally between the side sections, dovetailed connections between the `side sections and the central section operable to cause the side sections to be moved into engagement With one .another upon outward movement of the central section, and means holding the side Sections against relative longitudinal movement, said means including a pin projecting from one side section extending through an elongated opening in the central section and cooperating with a socket in the other side section.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 4th day of February, 1931.

GERALD M. GOLF. 

